UK

The United Kingdom accounts for more than one fifth of the global art market sales and is the second biggest art market after the US.

Through auctioneers, dealers, fairs and markets - and a burgeoning online sector - buyers, collectors and sellers of art and antiques can easily access a vibrant network of intermediaries and events around the country. The UK's museums also house a wealth of impressive collections

Wallis Simpson wedding

Edward VIII and Wallis Simpson wedding photos double estimate at auction at Bellmans

02 December 2016

Rarely seen photographs of the wedding that caused a constitutional crisis and rocked the British monarchy have been sold at £9200.

Design museum outside 2 2270NEDI 01-12-16.jpg

Design Museum moves west to Kensington

01 December 2016

The Design Museum has relocated to Kensington in west London and reopened after a £83m redevelopment of the 1960s Grade II* listed modernist building. Its new home is in the former Commonwealth Institute, originally a ground breaking mid-century design which opened in 1962.

Vincennes porcelain jug

Vincennes porcelain jug with royal connection emerges at Bonhams

01 December 2016

This French porcelain hot water jug, or ‘pot à eau’ was made at the Vincennes factory in 1754, probably for the Dauphine Maria Josepha. The mother of King Louis XVI, who was guillotined during the French Revolution, she was an important patron of Vincennes.

Plastic bag

'Star Wars' plastic bag from Leicestershire toy factory makes eight times estimate at auction

30 November 2016

It might not be a Bag for Life but this plastic bag has set a collector back £240.

Graham Lay

Tributes pour in for Antiques Roadshow militaria expert Graham Lay

30 November 2016

Antiques Roadshow expert and militaria specialist Graham Lay has passed away. A well-known personality on the show for more than 25 years, his death was announced by the BBC’s Antiques Roadshow.

The IS silver porringer

Rare Irish silver porringer sold for five times estimate at Sworders’ auction

30 November 2016

A rare and recently rediscovered Irish Commonwealth/Charles II silver porringer sold today for £25,000 – five times its estimate – at Sworders’ auction in Essex.

Gold torc

Museums offered chance to buy metal detectorist’s Bronze Age gold torc

29 November 2016

A 3000-year old torc found in a field in east Cambridgeshire is one of the largest and heaviest to be unearthed in the UK.

Bennet and Brown

Landlord agrees to let restorer stay in north London shop after petition

29 November 2016

A north London independent antique restorer who faced eviction has got the go-ahead to stay.

Beethoven manuscript at centre of attribution debate fails to sell at Sotheby’s

29 November 2016

A musical manuscript at the centre of a row over whether it was handwritten by Ludwig van Beethoven or a copyist has failed to sell at an auction at Sotheby’s.

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Sword presented by grateful passengers saved from pirate attack peril on offer at London auction house Dix Noonan Webb

29 November 2016

Besides the danger of a dog bite, delivering the mail is not generally seen as a perilous business. However, as a presentation sword up at auction in London shows, on occasion it can be a matter of life or death.

Lord Nelson portrait at Charles Miller

Rare Nelson miniature portrait surfaces and sells at auction for £14,000

29 November 2016

A small and previously unrecorded portrait of Lord Nelson sold for £14,000 at Charles Miller’s latest Maritime and Scientific sale in West Kensington.

Peter Wilson vintage fashion

Vintage fashion fans strut into Cheshire for Peter Wilson auction

28 November 2016

An auction of the designer wardrobe of a socialite at Peter Wilson’s Nantwich saleroom attracted more than 100 people and raised £27,000.

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Six Old Masters to watch at Sotheby's auction

28 November 2016

Works from the Italian Renaissance and the Dutch and Flemish Golden Age feature in Sotheby’s Old Masters Evening Sale on December 7. Among the works are those that have remained in the same collection for centuries.

Laomedon Refusing Payment to Poseidon and Apollo

Art detectives needed for the nation

28 November 2016

Do you know who this bespectacled gentlemen is? Or whose hand is behind this painting of ‘Laomedon Refusing Payment to Poseidon and Apollo’? If you think you do, you could become an art detective for the nation.

April 57 (Arbia 2) by Ben Nicholson

Record for Ben Nicholson rounds off record year for Mod Brits at Christie’s

25 November 2016

Christie’s auctions of Modern British & Irish art this week helped lift their annual total in this category to £68m, the highest figure the firm has ever posted.

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War of the Worlds film poster from 1953 on offer at Dudley auction

25 November 2016

The War of the Worlds 1953 British quad film poster is regarded as a scarce must-have in that collecting market.

Westminster Parliament London

Trade associations seek to amend bill in Parliament to ‘protect’ legitimate art market

25 November 2016

Politicians and trade bodies have raised further concerns over how a new Cultural Property Bill could impact the art market.

Polesden Lacey House

Appeal for information after items stolen from National Trust property in Surrey

24 November 2016

Police are appealing for information following a theft at Polesden Lacey House, a National Trust property in Surrey.

Lego

Bristol auctioneer plans Lego-only sale

24 November 2016

East Bristol Auctions is holding a Lego sale next month. With more than 300 lots, the firm claims the auction will be the world’s first dedicated Lego toy sale.

Ancient Egyptian model boat

London antiquities sales set sail with Bonhams offering ancient Egyptian model boat

24 November 2016

Specialist sales of antiquities in London kick off at Bonhams later this month with a 192-lot auction in New Bond Street on November 30.

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